On the recordJuly 21, 2010
I rise today, with my colleague Senator McCain, to introduce legislation to ensure that we take advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build a coast-to-coast communications network for our nation's first responders that is secure, robust and resilient. As it stands now, the mobile device the average teenager carries has more capability than those of the brave men and women who put their lives on the line for us each and every day and that's just wrong. Today we introduce the First Responders Protection Act of 2010, which will set aside the so-called D Block of spectrum for public safety entities and provide them the bandwidth they need to communicate effectively in an emergency. I am proud to stand with the representatives of more than 40 organizations representing public safety officials, and with the 'Big 7' associations representing State and local governments, to call on Congress to put the D Block in the hands of public safety.
